Naked Beauty

Macy grew up in Dayton, Ohio, raised by a single mom, and found her "superpower" in secondhand clothing at 16 while working through depression and a complicated relationship with her father. In today’s episode, we talk about how early-2000s YouTube and Teen Vogue Fashion University shaped her style education, how she built an audience by refusing to be precious about digging through other people's old underwear, and why she thinks clothing quality has gone downhill.

Macy also walks us through her new book, Second Chances: The Ultimate Guide to Thrifting, Sustainable Style and Expressing Your Au...

Alexis McGill Johnson is president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. A longtime champion of reproductive freedom and racial justice, Alexis leads one of the most recognizable names in healthcare and politics. Before she led health equity initiatives, combed through data to understand who needed her help, and led Planned Parenthood, she was inspired by the women she loved. Growing up, Alexis loved the hair salon because she got to share space with the grown women in her community and learn about their private lives. During our conversation, she talked...

Nina Parker knows pop culture. The Emmy-nominated television host, podcaster, fashion designer, and reality television host has led pop culture coverage for the past two decades. Nina has built her journalism career on E!, TMZ, VH1, CBS, and now Crooked Media’s Keep It. Her work has given us a front-row seat to the biggest moments and full access to Hollywood's biggest names. Whether she’s interviewing A-listers on the Met Gala’s red carpet or mediating disagreements on Love & Hip-Hop, Nina brings her expertise and signature style to every moment. But before she commanded screens across multiple television and po...

I had the incredible opportunity to partner with Shiseido for a live conversation with everyone’s favorite triple threat, Kelly Rowland and Face Architect Joomee Song. During Shiseido’s inaugural Benefiance retreat, we talked about everything: beauty, business, travel, and motherhood. We had such a great time talking about our respective visits to Japan, our approaches to aging, and of course our first impressions of the Benefiance eye cream. We even got some great beauty tips from the live audience!

Tune in as we discuss:

You may not know her name, but you've seen Zerina Akers' work. The Emmy Award-winning costume designer and celebrity stylist is best known for her work on Beyoncé's Black Is King. In this conversation, Zerina takes us back to her roots. She remembers growing up between her aunt's strict professionalism and her Panamanian grandmother's early beauty lessons. She shares what interning in the fashion closet taught her about hierarchy, hustle, and never looking idle. She also gives an honest breakdown of how stylists get paid. Brand deals, the emotional labor, and the weeks of unpaid prep behind a s...

Blakely Thornton is an original. A self-described Pop Culture Anthropologist and Out 100 Honoree, Blakely has built a digital career that uniquely spans comedy, entertainment, and style. On social media, fans flock to him for his honest, no-holds-barred commentary on their favorite topics. Others tune into Yestergays to hear him and his podcast co-host critique fashion and celebrity culture with his signature wit. Celebrities are smitten with him, often tickled by their engagements at red carpet events like the Met Gala and ultra-exclusive gyms. This very public, creative life wasn't what Blakely imagined for himself as an athletic kid growing...

Ashley Zsaton, DNP, ACNP-AG, learned about hair politics early. Growing up biracial in Milwaukee, she wasn’t always accepted for wearing her natural curls. Her search to understand what people meant by "good" and "bad" hair led her to become a board-certified nurse practitioner and hair loss specialist. As co-founder of the Hollywood Hair Institute, California’s preeminent hair transplant & aesthetic treatment center, Dr. Zsaton established herself as a leading hair restoration specialist and trichologist. Her medical background also includes supporting patients in critical conditions in the ICU and in ophthalmology, where her research led to the national publication of a...

KJ Dillard is the definition of a multi-hyphenate. Before he became a Summer House fan favorite, KJ was a professional skateboarder, genre-defying musician, and model. How has he managed to achieve all of these dreams so fervently? He won’t allow anyone to put him in a box. Growing up in Kansas and Arizona, KJ learned early on how to adapt to different circumstances. Initially, he was part of a well-to-do community, but his parents' divorce shifted everything, and he soon found himself in an entirely new world. KJ leaned into his interests and started a band with friends fr...

Tabitha Brown was destined for greatness. Her natural ability to connect with people, paired with her professional training as an actress, only strengthened her self-belief. A viral video catapulted her onto the screens and into the lives of millions of people worldwide, cementing what she always knew would happen. Since then, Tabitha has become a two-time Emmy Award-winning host, four-time bestselling author, children’s entertainment creator, multi-NAACP award winner, and serial entrepreneur across beauty, food, haircare, and fragrance verticals. Before her rise to fame, Tabitha was hustling in L.A., building connections and a portfolio of work in pursuit of...

While the beauty industry has made some progress in terms of authenticity and acceptance, discourse around cosmetic filler still doesn’t feel completely free of judgment. Which is why this episode with cosmetic skin doctor Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe feels so incredibly important. Not only do we delve into what to look for before starting fillers or botox, but Dr. Ewoma breaks down exactly - and I mean exactly - what she does to her own face to achieve a stunning “natural glam” look. Tune in for her radical transparency on filler, the U.K. 's extremely liberal qualifications for cosmet...

Before she became Lady London, Zaire Stewart was a fly toddler exploring New York City’s unique beauty culture. At just three years old, she was being carted to Dominican hair salons, getting her hair washed and pressed by the same women she still visits today. Her mother kept her dapper in DKNY and Moschino as they traveled between the Bronx and New Jersey. Greatly influenced by the beauty and brilliance of the women in her family, an aunt with an interest in global politics and anti-apartheid messaging recommended her name; it’s no wonder Lady London is such a cu...

In the second half of my conversation with  Kevin "KevOnStage" and Melissa Fredericks, we talk about all the ways they take care of themselves and one another. We cover therapy and how a combination of individual and couples therapy has helped them thrive in this season of their marriage. Before the pair were beloved by millions, they were a young couple searching for good marriage advice. They took what they learned and shared it with other couples during local gatherings at a BBQ joint, hoping they would all stay together. Their approach to learning and teaching out loud has o...

   Kevin "KevOnStage" and Melissa Fredericks are the hardest-working couple in independent media. The pair has turned their natural humor and 20+ years of partnership and parenting into a creative empire. Military brats who spent their childhoods traveling the globe, the pair met in high school and quickly became friends. Both athletic and churchy, with a special love for FUBU, Kev and Melissa began dating and never looked back. Kev and Melissa joined Naked Beauty to talk about their early connection and how it has grown into the partnership loved by their audience of millions. During our conversation, we...

Shan Boodram is a certified sex educator, board-certified sexologist, and the leading figure in a new kind of sexual education. Wielding an MS in Psychology and a longstanding curiosity, Shan helps people move towards greater intimacy between their partners and themselves. Born and raised in a predominantly white neighborhood in Canada, Shan’s initially poor experiences with sex led her to educate herself on how to prevent these kinds of experiences from occurring again. She built on this curiosity and self-education with professional training and a growing desire to build a new kind of sex ed. Shan joined Naked Be...

Kayla Nicole began training in gymnastics at only 5 years old. What started as fun and playful sessions quickly developed into a disciplined regimen of focus. She learned all about the type of commitment it takes to become a competitive athlete by focusing on diet, exercise, and training. She used that early dedication to carry herself through Pepperdine University's prestigious broadcast journalism degree program and into a massive media career that spans genres. Her early media icons were leading ladies in everyone’s favorite romcoms, including the Toni Braxton, with whom she had a chance to perform. These moments aren’t se...

Toni Bravo is the CEO of Blush and an influencer powerhouse. Based in Los Angeles, the California native has built a loyal community well into the millions because of her impeccable taste and advocacy for inclusivity in the beauty industry. Toni joined Naked Beauty to talk about her life before a viral blush try-on video changed everything. She shared what it was like to grow up as a fraternal twin in the sunny and very diverse Long Beach. We talked about her early forays into filming and editing herself and her family at just nine years old, simply for...

Nour Tayara joined us to talk about his innovative and 100% plastic-free beauty brand, AORA. Before he became a co-founder and CEO, Nour was learning about the power of beauty culture to connect and spark conversation among his community in Beirut. During our conversation, he shared how he found his place in Lebanon’s underground queer scene and shaped his life’s motto to be kind and engaging to everyone, wherever you are. We talk about how Nour supplemented his scholarship by taking guerrilla marketing jobs and how they changed his mind about his electrical engineering major. Nour explains how an i...

Dr. Carl Truesdale joins Naked Beauty to talk about how he became the go-to plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. During our conversation Dr. Truesdale shared how his scientist and artist parents influenced his early interests, and ultimately his career. As a child he was a science nerd who attended science camp, and a gifted portrait artist. He was always interested in finding the beauty in people’s faces, an interest that would never leave him. While in medical school, Dr. Truesdale was faced with more limited perspectives on beauty and technique that prioritized Eurocentric features. Dr. Truesdale shared with us...

Some creatives are truly in a league of their own and this guest has always stood out as someone pushing aesthetic boundaries all while being incredibly thoughtful. Artist, singer, designer, muse, creative director, and Tumblr icon KESH has never been too interested in adhering to the typical standards of beauty. She effortlessly rocks red eyeliner and gemstones on her nose, treating her face as a canvas for true self-expression. This level of “divine creativity” as KESH puts it, is what made me - along with so many others - fall in love with her. From spray painting the back of h...

Hope Giselle joins us to talk about her incredible journey to becoming a sought-after activist and speaker. Hope began her advocacy work fighting for inclusion and access for herself as an undergraduate at Alabama A&M University. Hope founded the university’s first LGBTQ+ organization and later became the first openly trans woman to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the university. She has since built a decade-long career as an activist, author, speaker, and nonprofit founder (AllowMe). Hope has proven that nothing is off limits to her, and she has committed her life’s work to ensuring the...

Sami Miro is the founder of Sami Miro Vintage, a Creative Director, and CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist whose innovative approach to fashion merges circular design, emerging AI, and ethical production. During our conversation, Sami discusses how her sense of self was shaped early, growing up mixed-race (Black, French, and Russian) in San Francisco, raised solely by her father who reminded her of her inherent beauty. Sami’s style is incredibly unique, and in our conversation we talk about style differences between New York and LA, the beauty of individual style, and how vintage helped Sami find her voice, he...

In this episode of Naked Beauty, I'm sharing the philosophy that has shaped the way I get dressed for years, and it's probably not what you think.

When I'm getting ready for a big meeting, a wedding, a gallery opening, a red carpet, or even just a night out, I don't start with the outfit. I start with the character. I start with the story. I start by asking myself one question: What category am I walking?

Inspired by the ballroom culture featured in Paris Is Burning, I break down how thinking in categories...

Madison Utendahl returns to the show on the heels of an incredible career pivot and with her burnout in check. Madison has appeared as a guest on the show in her capacity as the Webby-Award-winning and Forbes 30 Under 30 director of the Utendahl Creative Branding Studio, and founding member of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Refinery29’s 29Rooms, and Museum of Ice Cream. Today she arrives as the Founder of Utendahl Consulting, the magnetic voice behind BURNT on Substack, and a fractional CMO. Madison has proven that she can do it all, and her nervous system tells the story of...

This episode is sponsored by smartwater®

Ruth E. Carter is a trailblazing costume designer known for her work on Malcolm X, the Black Panther films, Sinners, and so many more iconic works. She has been awarded Academy Awards, a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award, the Costume Designers Guild Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But before that, she was exploring Black literature and history in Black Studies-focused enrichment programs in her home state of Massachusetts. When she was a young adult, she was deconstructing clothing and taking notes from grunge scenes, citing L...

In this very special episode of Naked Beauty, I had the privilege of talking to my grandfather, Calvin George Kemp, about his being 102 years old. He shared his experiences growing up in the segregated Vine City in Atlanta, Georgia. He explained how his father and other elders sheltered local children from the harsh realities of racism, and raised him in a community of Black people where he felt comfortable and safe. Things changed after he was drafted into the United States military, and he faced encounters no one should have. My grandfather, a brilliant and accomplished man, talked about r...

Jeneé Naylor is an influencer, founder, and CEO who has been sharing her impeccable fashion taste with social media audiences for years. With over a million followers across Instagram and Tiktok, she has proven that she can translate her endless looks and inspiring personality across any medium and to any audience. Jeneé built her digital presence after being pushed out of a successful and stable six-figure C-suite career at Target. Always watchful, she had noticed the writing on the wall and was taking on brand deals to secure her future and build her reputation. Jeneé’s acumen paid off, and s...

We gathered in NYC on the first Tuesday in May to debrief the 2026 Met Gala, and my wonderful guests did not hold back. We started with the artists behind two of our favorite looks: Coree Moreno and Sir John, who discussed their respective visions and approaches to hair and makeup for Chase Infiniti and Naomi Osaka. Then, Crystal Anderson and Sean Garette delivered rapid-fire hot takes on the night's best and worst looks — from Cardi B's "colonoscopy couture," to Beyoncé's sheer dress, Emma Chamberlain's Mugler moment, and more.

I was also joined by Darian Harvin, Rec...

In this very special Mother’s Day Episode, I am joined by two creative powerhouses, Lynn Whitfield and Grace Gibson. Lynn Whitfield is an award-winning and internationally recognized actress with a career spanning decades. Her incredible artistry has consistently championed the experiences of complicated and powerful women whose stories deserved to be told with the depth and care that only Lynn could provide. Grace Gibson is a Rock ’n’ Roll artist forging her own distinct path in the music industry. Grace has had the privilege of gracing stages at Paisley Park and the Apollo Theater with her incredible voice and un...

Sir John and I had a fascinating conversation with Dita Von Teese, the Queen of Burlesque. We talked about her childhood and the Hollywood starlets that inspired her to transform into the pinup girl of her dreams. Dita shared with us how her start dancing in the rave and strip club scene empowered her to always be her unique self. We also got the inside scoop on her Vegas show, a compilation of her life's work that includes original and iconic Bob Mackie costumes and, of course, her incredible beauty and skincare routine. Our chat illuminates Dita Von Teese’s...

Atiya Walcott is one of the most distinctive voices in fashion content, known for the cinematic quality of her videos, her mastery of silhouette and layering, and an approach to getting dressed that is equal parts intention and joy. In this episode, we get into all of it: her film school background, her relationship to beauty, what quiet luxury really signals, and why the way you dress is one of the most consequential creative decisions you make every single day.

Our conversation begins with Atiya's early relationship with fashion. We talk about what it was like...

Since Cyndi Ramirez Fulton opened Chill House on New York's Lower East Side in 2017, the brand has grown from a cult downtown spa into a nationwide product line, culminating in a 2025 acquisition by Kiss Beauty Group, with Cyndi still at the helm. On today's episode, Cyndi takes us back to growing up in Queens as the daughter of a Colombian esthetician and how that environment shaped her relationship with beauty and her entrepreneurial instincts. She opens up about her years in New York nightlife, the scrappy blog that helped her find her voice, and how she landed on the...

This is THE fragrance episode you’ve been waiting for. If you’re ready to talk top notes vs. base notes, Eau de Toilette vs. Eau de Parfum, get ready for this fascinating discussion with Asia Grant, the co-founder of fragrance brand Redoux. We dive into her relationship with fragrance growing up, why gendering fragrance is a waste of everyone’s time, the story behind her new bar soap products, launching a Black-owned brand during the pandemic, and more. 

Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: Redoux, Mountain Rose Herbs, Tom Ford (Black Orchid, Tuscan Leather, Neroli Portofino, Soleil Blanc...

This episode is sponsored by smartwater®

During the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, I spoke with the indomitable Bozoma Saint John live. Bozoma grew up between Ghana, Kenya, Washington DC, and Colorado Springs, a childhood of constant reinvention that taught her to read rooms fast and never apologize for taking up space. At 14, she wasn't crying because she didn't feel beautiful. She was crying because her classmates didn't recognize her beauty. That clarity and fierce, unshakable self-knowing have followed her everywhere. Her confidence carried her into boardrooms where she was the only Black woman, onto t...

Erica Chidi is an author, founder,  culinary school graduate, and one of the most genuinely knowledgeable people in the wellness space — and today, she's sitting down with me for an honest, friend-to-friend conversation about one of the most relatable struggles out there: how to actually feed yourself well when your calendar is back-to-back all week. I open up about my own journey navigating nutrition since being diagnosed with Graves' Disease, sharing the shifts I’ve already made, like cutting out sugar and processed foods, adding protein powder, and keeping a rotisserie chicken on hand. 

Erica brings her si...

Grammy-award-winning artist and beauty entrepreneur Alicia Keys has arrived at Naked Beauty, and we couldn’t be more excited. With braids and makeup choices that have influenced beauty culture for decades (most recently the Super Bowl halftime show), we sit down with Alicia to talk about where her relationship with beauty all started.

Tune in as we dive deep into:

*Growing up biracial in Hell’s Kitchen and the musical that is inspired by her upbringing 

*How Alicia’s mother and grandmother’s lack of self-care inspired her to choose differently 

*Her lov...

Before Amy Liu built Tower28, the company that currently sells products every 10 seconds in Sephora, she was working in the beauty industry and struggling with sensitive skin. With encouragement and investments from close friends, Amy leveraged her 15+ years of experience to bet on herself and build Tower 28, a company that keeps sensitive skin at the core of its product development. During our conversation, Amy shared that she dealt with chronic eczema and sensitive skin her entire life. However, despite working in major roles at companies like Kate Sommerville and Josie Maran and having firsthand experience of how product efficacy...

Today's episode is all about what I've learned from doing the 75 Style Hard challenge, created by fashion TikToker Mandy Lee (Old Loser in Brooklyn). The rules are to get dressed intentionally every day for 75 days, buy nothing new, document outfits, and set personal style goals. For me, daily styling has revealed that fit issues were the main reason I avoided many items in my closet, so tailoring has been the key to success in this challenge. I've realized I wear durable fabrics most and I've leaned into using hair, makeup, and accessories to refresh outfits. Tune in as I...

In this special encore episode of Naked Beauty, you'll hear three generations of women in my family talk all things beauty! I interview my Mom and Grandma on their perspective about beauty & style. My Grandma preaches on the necessity of Spanx, how growing up in the 1940s has informed her standards of beauty, and the importance of having a space to feel beautiful at home. My Mom explains natural hair is nothing new, and encourages me to embrace my youth & wear those short & tight dresses while I still can!

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Molly Sims is a true Renaissance woman. From gracing the covers of French Vogue to acting to founding the YSE beauty brand, she’s done it all in the beauty and entertainment industries. After years of hearing that she should model, she accepted an opportunity to take a semester off from Vanderbilt to give it a try in Europe. Her career ramped up quickly, and she soon found herself building a new and unexpected career overseas. Molly is very transparent about that time in her life, and how modeling quickly changed her relationship to her body. Her time in fa...

In today's episode of Naked Beauty, we're discussing a trend I'm sure you've seen across your timelines: The Morning Shed. This trend might seem like a harmless way to optimize your beauty routines, but I wanted to examine it more closely, especially as extreme beauty interventions become more and more common. In this mini episode, Charlotte Palermino joins me to explore what this trend says about our endless search for perfectionism through beauty.

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